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It is a sad day that we have another case where the ones who expose corruption are punished and the corrupt are still free and flourishing (Tan Sri’s and Datuk Sri’s). News on MP Rafizi Ramli and a bank clerk sentenced for 30 months jail: https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2018/02/332922/rafizi-ramli-jailed-30-months-breaching-bafia-nsttv

We lost another good lawmaker in the next General Election as MP Rafizi Ramli is not able to stand for the election when he is in jail.

We would like to plead to those Malaysians who qualify to vote for the next GE14 (going to happen the next few months) to either go home to vote or to cast your vote via postal voting.

1. Check your status at https://pengundi.spr.gov.my/
2. If you are already registered as a Pengundi Tidak Hadir , then contact the embassy for information on voting . If not , you will have to register using Borang 1b – even if you have registered for the last election : http://www.spr.gov.my/sites/default/files/Syarat%20dan%20Borang%201B.pdf
3. After sending your Borang 1b – check your status online from time to Time to check for any updates on your status .
4. When the General Election is called, your ballots will be sent to your overseas address. You will have to send the ballots back to the officer in your constituency. ( instructions will be included)

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This is a write up of our recent Q&A session with Maria Chin Abdullah. You can access this news at Malaysia Insight. Please share with your friends and Family in Malaysia.
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/36059/

The forum will discuss sensitive and pressing issues, for example how 90% of the Malaysian rainforests have been replaced by hydrodams and palm plantations to benefit a small group of elite politicians, the draconian measures introduced in the Security Offences Act 2012 (SOSMA) whereby detainees under the Act may be locked up for an unlimited period of time without trial and how $651 million ended up in the private account of the Malaysian Prime Minister just before the 2013 General Election

FORUM PANELISTS

Clare Rewcastle Brown (will be there in person) is a British investigative journalist. Born in the former British Crown Colony of Sarawak (currently part of Malaysia), she is the founder of Sarawak Report and Radio Free Sarawak which are openly critical of the Barisan Nasional-led state government of Sarawak. Following a series of exposés by Sarawak Report regarding the 1MDB scandal, an arrest warrant was issued by a Malaysian court in August 2015 for Rewcastle Brown. Interpol clarified that they had rejected the “Red Notice” application from Malaysia.

Maria Chin Abdullah (via Skype) is the Chairperson of the Malaysian anti-corruption movement Bersih, a coalition of NGOs advocating for reforms of the electoral system in Malaysia in order to ensure free and fair elections. Founded in 2006, the coalition has organised three rallies calling for a transparent electoral process and raising awareness of what they claim are flaws of the electoral system. Maria was detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) on the eve of the Bersih 5.0 rally. More than 15,000 protested on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

The Borneo Case:

Documentary filmmakers Erik Pauser and Dylan Williams spent five years intimately following the trail of an unlikely group of activists whose aim is to investigate how profits from the illegal logging that has annihilated more than 90% of the Malaysian Borneo Rainforest have been money laundered into property portfolios all around the world.

A review in Sydsvenskan, one of Sweden s biggest newspapers said: The Borneo Case is a hair-raising thriller that brings to light crimes of an enormous scale and moral decadence, told through personal stories of friendship, love, revolution and engagement. Its main characters couldn´t have been better written in a fiction film.

In response to the announcement by Election Commission (EC) chief Mohd Hashim Abdullah about postal voting for Malaysians currently residing abroad, we urge the EC not to implement this postal voting facility. The EC chief stated that registered overseas Malaysians can now cast their vote in the GE14 via postal ballot papers which will be mailed to their overseas address. Pos Malaysia Berhad will fully manage the sending of the postal ballot papers, not the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra).

This is a change in the previous arrangement for the 2013 General Elections: that Malaysians residing outside Malaysia register themselves as absent voters, collect their ballot papers, cast their vote and drop them off at their respective foreign commission offices. In the past, many have experienced unfortunate incidents: postal ballot papers either being misplaced or reaching their overseas address too late so that there was insufficient time to send them back to Malaysia. The instruction from the EC’s announcement is also vague because there is no mention of where postal voters should send their votes: to their respective constituencies in Malaysia or to the Wisma Putra? That the ballot papers will be managed by Pos Malaysia Berhad is regrettable because this increases the likelihood of fraud and other mishaps. Besides Wisma Putra is not taking the responsibility to ensure that there is no tampering of ballot papers sent through the mail.

Bersih Netherlands also supports an earlier press statement by Bersih Shanghai urging the Malaysian government to announce the general election date at least two months in advance, so that Malaysians residing overseas can make arrangements to fly back to Malaysia and perform their duty as a voter and loyal citizen. There are other countries that issue early notice, for instance the UK government announces the election date 8 weeks in advance.

The coming general election is widely speculated to be held in late March or early April.

Because many overseas Malaysians are employed fulltime or they are studying, they require sufficient notice to reschedule their commitments overseas, and book their flight in advance.

There are currently more than 70,000 Malaysians residing in Europe, with more than 63,000 of them are living in the UK. Malaysia is one of the leading countries with a high percentage of citizens living abroad, and the number is estimated to be in excess of one million.

A small group of us gathered today in Dudok (Den Haag) to catch up with like-minded friends. This meeting was special because we to get to know new people we met from the movie screening in September. Among other things discussed are :

Report on total donations collected so far from the charity movie event. It was agreed that some of the proceeds will be given to the movie maker and Global Bersih, and remaining will be used to cover our operational costs

Proposal from Global Bersih on teleconferencing build up towards the GE14

Demo of the progress of our Incident Reporting tool

Planning for the next event

It is always energizing to exchange ideas! Do come and join us for our next events. Email us at [email protected]

We would like to thank all our members today for making Malaysia Day Charity Movie a success! Thanks to Erik Pauser (Film Director) and Clare Brown for joining us on Skype. We had a great sharing session and discussed on what we can do for Malaysia.

More than 75 people turned up despite all the challenges – rain, public transport not according to schedule, etc. Kudos! All prepared food were sold out within 30 mins and we had good time getting to know new friends and contacts.

Lets continue to believe that we can change things through our little contributions!

With Panel Discussion (Live on Skype) with Erik Pauser (Film Director) & Clare Rewcastle-Brown (Founder of Sarawak Report)Entrance is free but donations are welcomed. Seats are limited! Get your tickets from us or our networks now!Email us for more details: [email protected]

Malaysia Day is held on 16 September every year to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on the same date in 1963. It marked the historic union of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak as the Malaysia that we know today. Nevertheless, Malaysia Day is also an opportunity for us to come together and hope for a more just, peaceful and
democratic Malaysia.

Documentary filmmakers Erik Pauser and Dylan Williams spent five years intimately following the trail of an unlikely group of activists whose aim is to investigate how profits from the illegal logging that has annihilated more than 90% of the Malaysian Borneo Rainforest have been money laundered into property portfolios all around the world.

While the movie exposes money laundering and environmental crisis in Sarawak, it is actually a manifestation of the broader nationwide crisis of power abuse, corruption and impunity, backed by the current regime in Malaysia. With the heat of the 1MDB global scandal and the 14th Malaysian General Election taking place anytime soon, this year’s celebration is not only about remembering the past, but ensuring that real change is possible in the country.

A recent review in Sydsvenskan one of Sweden’s biggest newspapers said:

“The Borneo Case is a hair-raising thriller that brings to light crimes of an enormous scale and moral decadence, told through personal stories of friendship, love, revolution and engagement. Its main characters couldn´t have been better written in a fiction film”.

The Borneo Case – Poignant documentary about how the world’s oldest rainforest has been felled piece by piece to make way for dams and palm oil plantations. The filmmakers filmed the clear cutting over a period of 25 years and followed activist Mutang during that time. He grew up in the jungle and has campaigned for years against the logging and the corrupt government of Malaysia. More…

We had the privilege to watch this documentary again in Den Haag on 25 March 2017. It has reminded us again what we are “fighting” for and our cause for a better Malaysia.

Meeting Mutang Urud (Penan Activist) and shaking his hands was another special moment for us. He mentioned that he felt many times that he was alone “fighting” this cause, we told him that we are all standing along with him and encouraged him to be strong and continue the “good fight”!

An international filmmaker, Erik Pauser is releasing a film on corruption in Borneo and 1MBD at the Film Festival Amsterdam. This will be in conjunction with our Bersih 5 Rally to create awareness on the corruptions in Malaysia.We would encourage all who participate in the rally to also watch the movie when it is released in Amsterdam on 19 Nov, @ 6:30pm.

We had the privilege to receive guests from Bersih 2.0 on 16-18 September 2016. Manager Mandeep Singh and Advocacy Coodinator Zoe, fulltime staff of the Bersih 2.0 Secretariat, met with Bersih NL members in The Hague. Mandeep and Zoe were stopping by the Netherlands after attending an international conference in Brussels, and they were on their way to meet up with Bersih members and NGOs in London.

We discussed current issues and incidents in Malaysia, including the abuse of power by the current federal government and Bersih 5’s demands. The Bersih 5 rally will be held in Kuala Lumpur on 19 November 2016.

Prior to the rally, a Bersih Convoy will tour the country, departing from Kangar (Perlis), Johor Bahru (Johor), Kota Bharu (Kelantan), Lumut (Perak), Sandakan (Sabah) and Miri (Sarawak) on 1 October 2016. The convoy will traverse the nation and spend 7 weeks travelling to 246 cities, towns and villages across the country to raise awareness about Bersih 5 and its demands for institutional reforms and to impress upon all Malaysians the severity of the 1MDB crisis.

We appeal to all Bersih NL supporters to donate generously to our preparations for Bersih 5 (IBAN: NL 53 SNSB 0928 3119 02). Those who donate €25 or more will receive a Bersih NL t-shirt which may be collected on 19 September or posted on request.

Special offer! One Bersih 5 t-shirt with Maria Chin Abdullah’s signature is up for grabs to the highest bidder! Come on, make a bid and email it to [email protected].